Filling machine



March 5, 1935. J, E E 1,993,367

FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan.- 13, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG; I 25 42 42 XW I TNESSES Filed Jan. I3, 1932 I 2 SheetS Sh'eet ,2

E ivd INVENTOR. WITNESSES E Jk 1 2yer,a?ce6ed' A TTORNE Y.

Patented Mar. 5, 1935 PATENT omen 1,993,367 V FILLING MACHINE John F.Geyer, deceased, late Pa., by Blanche M. Gever,

'01 Willow Grove, executrlx, Willow Grove, Pa., aaaignor to The FillerMachine Company, Incorporated, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application January 13, 1932. Serial No. scams" 2 Claims."(01. 220-101) This invention relates to machines for filling jars,bottles and like receptacles with fluent materials such, for. example,as condiments or preserves in liquid or semi-liquid form. Moreparticularly, this invention has reference to filling machines of thetype disclosed in U. S. Reissue Patent No. 15,460 granted to John F.Geyer, September 26, 1922.

In connection with filling machines of the kind specifically referredto, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved valvemechanism to control the inlet and discharge ports of the cylindersrelied upon for measuring the charges of material which are to beintroduced into the receptacles in phase relation to the movement of thedisplacing pistons or plungers operating in the said cylinders.

This invention is also directed toward provision of means for preventingturbulence of the material incident to discharge of the measuredquantities thereof into the receptacles, thereby to preclude aerationsuch as would be likely to affect the keeping qualities of the material,as well as splash and spillage thereof from the receptacles.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will appearfrom the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings; wherein Fig. I shows a longitudinal sectionalview of a filling machine conveniently embodying the presentimprovements.

Fig. II is a fragmentary view partly in end elevation and partlyin crosssection, taken as indicated by the arrows 1III in Fig. I.

Figs. III and IV are views corresponding to Figs. I and II, showing theparts .of the machine indifferent positions; and,

Fig. V is a perspective view of one of the valves 40 embodied in themeasuring mechanism of the machine.

As herein illustrated, the improved filling ma-' chine comprises asupply hopper 10 for the fluent material M which is to be dispensed, thesaid hopper being supported crosswise of the tops of a pair of spacedside frames 11, see Fig. II. The hopper 10 is of the downward convergenttype, and in this instance provided with a bottom outlet 12 which iscommon to the upper inlet ports '9 13 of apair of measuring cylinders14, extending lengthwise of the machine within the. interval between theframes 11. As shown, the cylinders 14 are separately made and bolted tothe bottom of the hopper 10. In direct vertical alignment with the inletport 13 the measuring cylinders 14 have lower part of the machine. Thisshaft 26 constibottom outlet ports 15 with depending elongate dischargenipples 16. Reciprocative in the open ends of the cylinders 14, aredisplacing pistons or plungers 17, which, on their suction strokes.(leftward in Fig. I) serve to draw in measured quantitles or charges ofthe material M from the hope per through the upper inlet ports 13 of thesaid cylinders, and, which, on their pressure strokes (rightward in Fig.111), expel the measured quantities of the material through the outletports and the discharge nipples 16. The plungers 1'7 are actuated inunison by the means about to be described: Journaled in up-' wardlycurved bracket arms 18 of the side frames 11 of'the machine, is acrosswiseshaft 19 whereto 15 are secured a pair of depending arms 20. Bymeans of horizontal links 21 these arms are coupled with a cross bar 22joining the ends of axial rod extensions 17a of the plungers 17. Rockingmovement is imparted to the shaft '19. through the medium of anotherattached arm 23 which is coupled, by a rod link 24, with a crank pin 25'on a transverse shaft 26 journaled in the tutes the main shaft of themachine, and it may be driven by belt orotherwise from any suitablesource of power, not illustrated. A hand screw 27 at-the upper yoked end24a of the link 24 permits a regulatable amount of lost motionbetweenthe said link and the arm 23 on the rock shaft 19. Accordingly, byadjusting the hand screw 2'7 the quantity of material M drawn from thehopper- 10 may be varied as desired.

To coact with the displacing plungers 1'7, there are provided rotaryvalves 28 which are coaxially lodged within the right hand ends of themeasuring cylinders 14, one of the said valves being illustrated inperspective in Fig. V. As shown, the valves 28 are of a diameter to fitthe bores of the cylinders 14, and formed, inward of solid portions 280,with hollows 28b which are open toward the plungers 17 as shown in Figs.I and III, and which are provided with longitudinal cut-outs extendingfrom said solid portions 28a to their free ends to define lateral ports29. During oscillation of the valves 28 as hereinafter noted, the ports29 are brought into registry alternately with inlet ports 13 and outletports 15 of the cylinders 14 in proper phase relation with thereciprocatcry movements of the displacing plungers 17. As shown in Figs.I and III, the valves 28 are retained by cover caps 30 secured over thecorresponding ends of the measuring cylinders 14; and said valves aremoreover formed with diametrically reduced axial trunnion extensions 280which projectthrough the caps 30 and afford attachment respectively forspur pinions 31.

The actuating mechanism for the valves 23 includes, in addition to thepinions 31 a toothed rack bar 32 to mesh with the pinions 31, the saidbar being guided for endwise reciprocation transversely of the machine,in the side frames 11. Such movement is imparted to the rack bar 32 by avertical lever 33 with fulcrum support intermediate its ends on abracket 34 reaching outward from one of the side frames 11, see Figs. IIand IV. At its lower end, the lever 33 is fitted with a roller 35 whichis confined to the circumferential groove of a cam drum 36 fast on oneend of the main shaft 26. As a consequence of the provisions justdescribed, the valves 28 are oscillated through an angle ofsubstantially ninety degrees, from the position shown in FigrII to thatshown in Fig. IV and vice versa.

The receptacles R, which are to receive the charges of material Mexpressed through the discharge nipples 16 from the measuring cylinders14, are progressed in pairs in the direction indicated by the arrow inFig. I, by an intermittently moving conveyor 33, along a table 39extending longitudinally of the machine between the side frames 11 at alevel below the hopper 10. As shown, the table 39 rests on spaced beams40 which extend crosswise between supporting angle bars 41, and whichare secured to the side frames 11 with capacity for vertical adjustment,by means of clamp bolts 42. The conveyor 38 consists, in this instance,of a pair of laterally-spaced sprocket chains 38a which carry betweenthem, at uniformly spaced distances, cross rods 38b adapted to engagethe receptacles R. As shown the chains 38a are trained about sprocketwheels 43 whereof the shafts 44 are joumaled in brackets 45 at oppositeends of the table supporting angle bars 41, so that, incident tovertical adjustment of the table 39, the conveyor 38 is carried withthem. Idlers 48 serve to absorb the slack of the sprocket chains 38. theshaft 4'7 for the add mere being vertically adjustable in slots 48 ofthe frames 11, by appropriate means. not illustrated, to suit thevertical regulation of the table 39. The mechanism for intermittentlyprogressing the conveyor 38 may be of the same character as that shownin the patent hereinbefore referred to and has therefore been omittedfrom the drawings.

Under the action of the conveyor 38, the receptacles R placed in pairsupon the right hand end (Fig. I) of the table 39 are successively ad'-vanced into the position beneath the nozzles 18. at which region thesaid receptacles are raised by an elevator 50 movable up and downthrough an opening 51 centrally of the table 39. As shown, the elevator50 has a depending portion 50a. confined between a pair of verticalguides 52 which are bolted or otherwise secured. to the two intermediatetable supporting cross beams of the series 40. The depending portion 50aoi' the elevator 50-is slotted as at 53 to clear the main shaft 28 andfitted, at its lower end, with a roller 54 which is adapted to beinfluenced by a rotary cam 55 on the said shaft. The action of the cam55 is in opposition to a weight 58 hung from one end of ail'ever 57which is fulorumed to rock on a cross rod 58 extending between theframes 11, and whereof the other end is pivotally connected at 59 to thedep ndins portion 50a of the elevator 50.

The operation of the machine is as follows: As the plungers 1'7 areabout to move leftward in Fig. I on their suction stroke, the valves 28'are rotated to the position shown in Figs. III and IV, thereby closingthe outlet ports 15 and opening the ports 13 to permit material M to bedrawn from the hopper 10 into the cylinders 14, it being understood thatthe mechanisms whereby the plungers 1'7 and/the valves 28 are actuatedfrom the shaft 26 are so timed as to bring about the concerted actionJust described. Immediately upon completion of the outward or suctionstroke of the pistons 1'7 the valves- 28 are rotated from the positionsshown in Figs. III and IV back to the positions shown in Figs. I and II,thereby closing the inlet ports 13 and opening the outlet ports 15 ofthe cylinders 14. Thus incident to forward movement of the plungers 17from the position of Fig. III to the position of Fig. I the charge ofthe material M previously drawn into the cylinders 14 is expelleddownward through the discharge nozzles 16 into the awaiting receptaclesR on the elevator 50,

in Fig. 111 during the suction stroke of the plungers 17 so that thenozzles 16 are at this time within the receptacles R. During dischargeof the material M through the nozzles 16, the elevator 50 is graduallylowered under the infiuence of the cam 55 and in opposition to theweights 58 until the said elevator is returned to its normal positionflush with the top of the table 39, as shown in Fig. I. By suchoperation of the elevator 50. the receptacles R are caused to recede atsuch a rate incident to filling so that the ends of the nozzles 18 aremaintained slightly below the constantly changing level of the materialM in the receptacles R, with consequent preclusion of turbulence likelyto be attended with splash or spillage. Upon descent of the elevator50,.the filled pair of receptacles R is advanced along the table 39 bythe next movement of the conveyor 33 and replaced on the elevator 50 bythe succeeding pair of empty receptacles R. Such movement of theconveyor 38 occurs, of course, concurrently with the outward or suctionstroke of the plungers 17.

Through the provisions made for vertical ad- Justment of the table 39the'machine may be adapted to receptacles R of different heights andcapacities exactly as set forth in the patent. supra; while theadjustment at 2'7 permits variation in the throw or movement of theplungers 1'7 to predetermine the quantity in the unit charges drawn intothe measuring cylinders 14 from the hopper 10.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: I

1. In a filling machine the combination of a supply hopper with asubiacent measuring cylin-' der having directly-aligned'inlet and outletopenings, a reciprocatory displacing plunger in said cylinder, a rotaryvalve axially within one end of said cylinder, said valve embodying asolid portion having a hollow extension open towards the plunger, saidextension ha ing a longitudinal cut-out defining a coextensive lateralport, and gear mechanism whereby said valve is rotated to alternatelymove the lateral port into registry with the cylinder inlet and outletopenings in proper phase relation with the reciprocatory movements ofthe displacing plunger.

2. In a filling machine the combination of a supply hopper with aplurality of subjacent measuring horizontal cylinders having verticallyaligned inlet and outlet openings, a reciprocatory displacing plunger ineach cylinder, means coupling saidplunge'rs for simultaneous movement,individual rotary valves within and at one end of the respectivecylinders, each said valve embodying a solid portion having a hollowextension open towards the plunger and a longitudinal cut-out defining acoextensive port in such extension, and rack and pinion means wherebysaid valves are concurrentlyrotated through substantially 90 toalternately move the longitudinal ports into registry with therespective cylinder inlet and outlet openings in proper phase relationwith the reciprocatory movement oi the n a s p unsers.

BLANCH! M. GEYER,

Eccentric o! the Estate of John' F. Geyer. De-

ceased.

